Easy Home Improvement Jobs Installing a New Shower Head

If you’ve decided to replace your old shower head and get a more luxurious model, it’s certainly an easy home improvement job you can tackle yourself.  Once you’ve purchased your new shower head, you should remove the old one with pliers or an adjustable wrench.  By turning the wrench or pliers counterclockwise while holding the shower arm, you should be able to remove the old shower head with no problem. Don’t tug or pull until the head is completely unscrewed, or you could pull the pipe out of the wall.

Next, remove any dirt or lime-scale buildup on the shower arm thread with a rag or paper towel.  There will likely be rust, calcium, or lime buildup there that should be removed so it doesn’t cause any problems with the new head.  Dry off the pipe thoroughly and wrap white plumber’s tape around it – add one layer clockwise.  Tuck in the ends and smooth them down so they lie flat. This will act as a seal preventing any leaks.  

Next, screw on the new shower head in a clockwise direction over the plumber’s tape. As soon as you start to feel the shower head tighten securely over the arm, stop tightening it.  Over-tightening can cause problems with the shower head connection or you may strip the thread.  Next, it’s time to run the water in the shower to see if the shower head is working properly.  Let the water run for about a minute to make sure there are no leaks. Congratulations! You can now enjoy your new shower.

If you determine that there is a leak once you test out the shower head, you’ll simply want to tighten it a bit more and test it out again. These simple repair and home improvement jobs are easy enough to do yourself. Now that you’ve successfully installed your new shower head, you can continue with other important home improvement projects.